Kermode is taking his talents to Hickory
BY AVIEL SMOLKA
ASMOLKA@NEWSARGUS.COM
Don’t let Case Kermode’s soft-spoken demeanor fool you.A competitor with a burning passion for baseball, the Wayne Country Day School senior becomes a silent assassin when he steps up to the
plate.
Kermode is carrying that intensity and fire down U.S. 70 next season into Hickory. Thursday morning, he signed a national letter-of-intent to continue his baseball career at Lenoir-Rhyne University.
“Whenever I went to visit, it reminded me of here (WCDS),” said Kermode. “It was small, and it felt like home, so I knew that’s where I wanted to go as soon arrived.”Kermode will join a Lenoir-Rhyne squad that finished 27-22 overall last season and lost to Anderson in the South Atlantic Conference Championship game.
“They’ve got a great ballplayer,” said WCDS head coach and athletic director Michael Taylor. “He has great work ethic in and out of classroom, and he does a phenomenal job of being a great teammate and being a great student at the same time.“When he started here as a freshman, one of his goals and aspirations was to be able to play collegiate baseball at some level and to have this opportunity, speaks volumes about ever ything he has done over his career.”
Kermode had a .493 batting average last season and 34 RBIs. He also hit three home runs, six doubles and two triples.In 10 appearances on the mound, he went 1-0 with two saves and had a 3.77 ERA.
“I don’t really look at my stats,” said Kermode. “I just like to play, and not worry about stats.”Kermode, who also played for the Wayne County Post 11 legion ballseball team last summer, contends that hitting is his biggest asset and he’s always confident inside the batter’s box.
He said playing legion baseball has helped prepare him for the college level.“Coach Pate (WC Post 11 head coach) is one of the best coaches I’ve ever had. He taught me a lot over the summer, and I actually decided to play baseball with him instead of playing travel ball in front of some college coaches so I could learn his mindset because he played at the college level.
“He helped me out a lot that’s for sure.”The different pitching styles and var ying scenarios he faced each game helped him elevate his play, and improve at the same time. That’s one reason he helped lead WCDS to the NCISAA 1-A State semifinals last season, and why he’ll surely be missed at WCDS.
“One thing Case has done is lead by example. It’s going to be tough to replace him,” said Taylor.
BY AVIEL SMOLKA
ASMOLKA@NEWSARGUS.COM
Don’t let Case Kermode’s soft-spoken demeanor fool you.A competitor with a burning passion for baseball, the Wayne Country Day School senior becomes a silent assassin when he steps up to the
plate.
Kermode is carrying that intensity and fire down U.S. 70 next season into Hickory. Thursday morning, he signed a national letter-of-intent to continue his baseball career at Lenoir-Rhyne University.
“Whenever I went to visit, it reminded me of here (WCDS),” said Kermode. “It was small, and it felt like home, so I knew that’s where I wanted to go as soon arrived.”Kermode will join a Lenoir-Rhyne squad that finished 27-22 overall last season and lost to Anderson in the South Atlantic Conference Championship game.
“They’ve got a great ballplayer,” said WCDS head coach and athletic director Michael Taylor. “He has great work ethic in and out of classroom, and he does a phenomenal job of being a great teammate and being a great student at the same time.“When he started here as a freshman, one of his goals and aspirations was to be able to play collegiate baseball at some level and to have this opportunity, speaks volumes about ever ything he has done over his career.”
Kermode had a .493 batting average last season and 34 RBIs. He also hit three home runs, six doubles and two triples.In 10 appearances on the mound, he went 1-0 with two saves and had a 3.77 ERA.
“I don’t really look at my stats,” said Kermode. “I just like to play, and not worry about stats.”Kermode, who also played for the Wayne County Post 11 legion ballseball team last summer, contends that hitting is his biggest asset and he’s always confident inside the batter’s box.
He said playing legion baseball has helped prepare him for the college level.“Coach Pate (WC Post 11 head coach) is one of the best coaches I’ve ever had. He taught me a lot over the summer, and I actually decided to play baseball with him instead of playing travel ball in front of some college coaches so I could learn his mindset because he played at the college level.
“He helped me out a lot that’s for sure.”The different pitching styles and var ying scenarios he faced each game helped him elevate his play, and improve at the same time. That’s one reason he helped lead WCDS to the NCISAA 1-A State semifinals last season, and why he’ll surely be missed at WCDS.
“One thing Case has done is lead by example. It’s going to be tough to replace him,” said Taylor.
